Hope for your financial life and beyond

If You Do Anything This Year, Please Consider Receiving This Gift

…the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23

giftHow are those Christmas gifts working out for you? What level of satisfaction are you receiving from them? Wish you had received something else?

Gifts are awesome! My wife and I have bought many gifts for the house that have enhanced our family life. One of note a few years ago was a a 100+ yr. old oak pedestal table for our kitchen eating area. We had been looking for a larger kitchen table for the family because the six of us were sitting so close together we were knocking knees under the old one. Some nights it was just easier for me to eat standing up, plate in hand.

We have received so much satisfaction from that table. We have physical space so we are not breathing on other people’s food. Dinners are relaxing and comfortable.

But while it was a great gift to ourselves and does provide a convenience, in the end it’s just a thing. It’s a possession that won’t last. It’s a personal asset that does not fulfill any deep emotional or spiritual needs inside our souls.

The Pursuit of Assets

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A Singular Focus of Paying Off Debt Leads to Peace

Today I’m guest posting and commenting at the personal finance blog The Frugal Farmer. Click the link below to read about what distracts people from paying off debt.

sunset in HawaiiEarlier this summer, my family and I took a weekend excursion to the Bahamas aboard Royal Caribbean cruise lines. We were fortunate enough to walk into an incredible offer Royal Caribbean was pushing where the third and fourth occupants of a cabin sale free. For a family of six already looking for a short getaway, that’s an offer not to be passed up.

For those who have never been on a cruise I would highly recommend it. And when you go, consider upgrading to a balcony room. Lounging with the calm ocean breezes in your own private zone is one of the most relaxing experiences around.

Balconies are about peace. They produce it because there are no distractions, unless your kids are screaming on the balcony next to you. Perhaps some playful dolphins catch your eye for a moment and there is the occasional enemy cruise ship passing in the distance. Mostly though, there is nothing there to distract you. It’s only water and sky for as far as the eye can see…

Click to Continue Reading at The Frugal Farmer…

Next Post: 5 Life Changing Moments That Lead to Lifestyle Inflation

Prior Post: Rethinking the Definition of Success

“Give It Away Now” – Saving to Give

Chili PeppersI’ve been on a series of articles lately about the reasons we need to focus on saving money. I’ve dealt with everything from saving for emergencies, to saving for purchases, to saving for the children’s college and our own personal retirement.

I’m concluding this series today by proposing something that may seem radical. When I tell you this final reason why I believe we should save money, it’s going to seem contradictory and you may think I’m crazy. But I think the continual practice of this does more to enhance our lives than all the millions of dollars we could possibly accumulate.

To quote Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, we need to save money so that we can “Give it away now.”

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